Barney vs Marcus
Barney and Marcuscompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Barney was ranked #535 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Barney was ranked #395 and Marcus #200 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Barney was ranked #655 and Marcus #220 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barney was ranked #298 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Barney and Marcus over time
Barney and Marcus appear together in 2 published lists, across 37 years of shared records. Marcus held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barney in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Barney in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barney held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Marcus in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barney #246 in 2021, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barney #298, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2012–2023
Barney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Marcus in 8.
Highest recorded here: Barney #374 in 2021, Marcus #142 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barney #395, Marcus #200.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Barney | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #298 (2024) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barney and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Barney
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #489 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #246 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #298 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys